Former 49ers receiver Terrell Owens is back among the 15 modern-era finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Owens was a finalist last year in his first year of eligibility. He fell short of the necessary votes to make it into the Hall of Fame on his first ballot.
The list of finalists, announced Tuesday, includes seven players who are finalists for the first time, including first-year eligible nominees Brian Dawkins, Jason Taylor and LaDainian Tomlinson.
Ex-49ers running back Roger Craig, who was a finalist in 2010, did not make the cut from the semifinal round for the seventh year in a row.
Owens' statistics place him in elite company among the top receivers in NFL history. He ranks second behind only Jerry Rice with 15,934 receiving yards, third behind Rice and Randy Moss with 153 touchdown catches, and eighth with 1,078 receptions.
Isaac Bruce is the only other wide receiver who made the list of finalists. Bruce finished his career with the 49ers in 2008 and '09. He ranks fourth in career receiving yards (15,208), 13th in receptions (1,024) and 26th in touchdowns (91).
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The 15 modern-era finalists will be considered for election into the Hall of Fame when the selection committee meets in Houston on the day before Super Bowl LI. A maximum of five modern-era candidates can be elected, in addition to the senior and contributor nominees.
Here are the modern-era finalists:
--Morten Andersen, kicker – 1982-1994 New Orleans Saints, 1995-2000, 2006-07 Atlanta Falcons, 2001 New York Giants, 2002-03 Kansas City Chiefs, 2004 Minnesota Vikings
--Tony Boselli, tackle – 1995-2001 Jacksonville Jaguars
--Isaac Bruce, wide receiver – 1994-2007 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, 2008-09 San Francisco 49ers
--Don Coryell, coach – 1973-77 St. Louis Cardinals, 1978-1986 San Diego Chargers
--Terrell Davis, running back – 1995-2001 Denver Broncos
--Brian Dawkins, safety – 1996-2008 Philadelphia Eagles, 2009-2011 Denver Broncos
--Alan Faneca, guard – 1998-2007 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2008-09 New York Jets, 2010 Arizona Cardinals
--Joe Jacoby, tackle – 1981-1993 Washington Redskins
--Ty Law, cornerback – 1995-2004 New England Patriots, 2005, 2008 New York Jets, 2006-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2009 Denver Broncos
--John Lynch, free safety – 1993-2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2004-07 Denver Broncos
--Kevin Mawae, center/guard – 1994-97 Seattle Seahawks, 1998-2005 New York Jets, 2006-09 Tennessee Titans
--Terrell Owens, wide receiver – 1996-2003 San Francisco 49ers, 2004-05 Philadelphia Eagles, 2006-08 Dallas Cowboys, 2009 Buffalo Bills, 2010 Cincinnati Bengals
--Jason Taylor, defensive end – 1997-2007, 2009, 2011 Miami Dolphins, 2008 Washington Redskins, 2010 New York Jets
--LaDainian Tomlinson, running back – 2001-09 San Diego Chargers, 2010-11 New York Jets
--Kurt Warner, quarterback – 1998-2003 St. Louis Rams, 2004 New York Giants, 2005-09 Arizona Cardinals
The committee that reviews the qualifications of those players whose careers ended more than 25 years ago announced one senior finalist in August.
--Kenny Easley, safety – 1981-87 Seattle Seahawks
Two contributor finalists, also announced in August, were selected by the committee that considers persons who made outstanding contributions to professional football other than players and coaches.
--Jerry Jones, owner, president & general manager – 1989-present Dallas Cowboys
--Paul Tagliabue, commissioner – 1989-2006 National Football League
Editor's note: Matt Maiocco is on the 48-member Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee.
